Multiple cable connector



Dec. 21, 1943. DIBNER 2,337,155

MULTIPLE CAB LE CONNECTOR Filed Juiy 31, 1940 INVENTOR. BEEN D/BNERKfifNEY.

Patented Dec. 21, 1943 2,337,155 MULTIPLE CABLE CONNECTOR.

Bern Dibner, Crompond, N. Y. Application July 31, 1940, Serial No.348,853

4 Claims.

. Myinvention relates to clamp type electrical cable connectors,especially those suitable for use in industrial or building wiring.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a connector that maybe used as a parallel tap, a T-connector, a cros connector or as anend-to-end connector, and especially adapted to connect a main conductorto two branch conductors at right angles to each other.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connector that will clampa range of cable sizes in either the main or branch connection grooves.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a connector ofminimum bulk and one which can be readily taped up.

,A further object of my invention is to avoid the use of special toolsto install the connector.

.Still another object of my invention is to provide interlockingbarriers to surround the cables so that all the various parts areproperly aligned and the cables are completely enclosed, no matter inwhich combination they may be used.

. Another object of my invention is to use high strength, low electricalconductivity materials for those parts which carry the mechanicalstress, and low strength, high electrical conductivity material for thatpart which transmits th electrical current from one cable to the other.Still another object of my invention is to provide a clamp which growssmaller and more compact as the cable which it clamps grows smaller indiameter.

Still another object of my invention is to accomplish the previouslyenumerated objects at low cost.

I accomplish these and other objects and obtain my new results as willbe apparent from the device described in the following specification,

particularly pointed out in the attached claims,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of my connector with 'main and two branchconductors supported groove ll of the center body and cooperating withthe same to grip the main cable I2. The end body 30 is positionedadjacent the center body on the remaining side and has two crossinggrooves 3|, 32 facing respectively the grooves l3, M of the center bodyand cooperating with these grooves to grip the branch cables 33 and 34The center body ID has upwardly and downwardly extending projections l5and I6 interlocking with cutaway sections 22, 35 of the end bodies tocomplete the encirclement of the cables; whereby the cable strands areprevented from spreading or escaping.

The end body 2%] has two extending internally threaded lugs 23,diagonally positioned with re spect to the end body and located onopposite sides of the groove 2|. Thus, the two lugs 23 are positioned atcorners diagonally opposite to each other with respect to the groove 2!and also with respect to the other grooves of the other bodies. Adiagonal reinforcing rib 24 runs from one lug 23 to the other.

Both the center body l0 and the end body 30 have a pair of extendingbored bolt lugs l1 and 36 respectively, through which the clamping bolts40 pass and keep the bodies properly aligned.

Suificient thickness, as at I8, is provided between the opposite groovesII and i3 of the center body to provide for the clearance of theinsulation when parallel cables are installed. The thickness of themetal between the crossing groove l4 and the groove ll may beconsiderably reduced. I have provided this level difference to makepossible a more compact clamp. Similarly, in the body 30, the crossinggroove 3| is situated at a different level than the groove 32,corresponding with the levels of grooves i3 and I4, and this is alsodesirable to make the clamp more compact.

The lugs 23 of end body 20, project towards the center body 10, and fitinto corresponding recesses l9 therein, These projecting lugs areadditionally important because they provide extra threads for the boltand thus insure maximum strength, equivalent to a U-bolt construction.

Extensions 9, located on opposite sides of center body [0, provideadditional gripping surface for grooves l4, and project at one endthereof, as at B, to encircle the cable inserted therein.

It should be noted that the views of the connector shown in Figs. 1 and2, are identical to the views of their reverse sides. This symmetrymakes possible a further ease of assembly.

The end bodies 20, 30 are made of strong material which may be low inelectrical conductivity. The center body I is made of less strong, buthighly conductive material, such as pure copper or a suitable alloy.

By the foregoing construction I have provided a compact clamp, adaptedto serve a wide variety of sizes. The desirable objective of providing adevice adapted to function as a distributor-ieeder connector takingcurrent from a main cable and distributing it to right angled branchcables is an important advantage in addition to the ordinarycombinations of cable connections. By the provision of interlockinprojections of the central body with corresponding cut-outs located onboth end' sections, Ifhave.

created a connector made of a numberof parts which are self aligningwith or without installation on the cables, and permit the insertion ofthe bolts into aligned apertures, reducing cross strain on the bolts andparts.

I have shown my preferred construction with two diagonally positionedbolts which whenoin engagement with the end plate 20, provides, ineffect, a U bolt construction of exceptional sturdiness. Of course, fourbolts may be used.

I have thus described my invention, butI desire it understood that it isnot confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, thesame being merely illustrative, and that. the invention may be carriedout in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention,and, therefore, I claim broadlythe right to employ all equivalentinstrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and bymeans of which, objects of 'my invention are attained and new resultsaccomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments hereinshown and described are only some of the many that can be employed toattain these objects and accomplish these results.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A cable connector comprisinga center body and two end bodies, oneside of said center'b'ody having a groove, and the opposite side havingtwo crossing grooves, one endbody positioned on the single grooved sideof the center bodyand having a groove adapted to cooperate with thegroove of that side of the center body to grip a run cable; the otherend bodypositioned on the double grooved side of the center body andhaving two crossing grooves adaptedto cooperate with the crossinggrooves-of the center body to grip two tap cable-ends of differentdiameters inserted at the angle of the crossing grooves, the end bodyhaving the single groove being provided with only two threaded apertureobliquely spaced with respect to the run conductor grooves; and capscrews for threaded engagement with the threaded apertures for clampingsaid three bodies together; said center body being provided withoutwardly extending ear sections having relatively less thickness thanthethickness. of the center section and. provided with recessesforthecap screws to permit tilting movement of the center section with respectto the axis of the cap screws, to insure proper clamping of the insertedtap cables of varying diameters.

2. A cable: connector comprising a center body having one groove on oneside and two crossing grooves on the opposite side; an end bodypositioned on the single grooved side of the center body and having agroove adapted to cooperate with the groove of that side of the centerbody to gripv a cable; a second end bodypositioned on the doublegroovedl side of the center' body and having two crossinggroovesadapted. to cooperate withthe crossing groovesoi the center' bodyto grip tap cables, the centerbody having external extensions projectingtoward the end bodies and interlocking with cutaway sections ,of thelatter; and meansito clamp the threebodies together.

3. A cable connector comprising a. center body with two differentlygrooved opposite surfaces; two end bodies positioned on the groovedsidesof the center body and havinggrooves. adapted to cooperate with thecorresponding grooves. of the center body to grip cables, one ofvtheseend bodies having two diagonally positioned threaded lugs extendingtowards the center body and the remaining end. body provided withcorresponding diagonally positioned holes, said centerbody provided withcorresponding diagonally positioned recessed and apertured'iear sectionsto accommodate said lugs; and bolts threaded in said lugsand' passingthrough the diagonally. positioned holes in the remaining end body, andapertures in the recessed ear sections in the. center body, for clampingthe three, bodies together about the cables;

4. A cable: connector according to claim 1 wherein one-:of the crossinggroovesof the center body is formed at a different level'than the othercrossing groove and the-two'correspondingcrossing grooves of thefacingend bodyare'correspondingly formed at different levels withithegroove transverse to the run cable, closer thereto.

BERN D'IBNER.

